Heading Northwest on Route 55.

…. "This highway is an old concrete two-laner that hasn’t had much traffic since a four-laner went in parallel to it several years ago."

Imagine you are "heading northwest" (ZMM page 03) just prior to daybreak.
…. Please study your Minnesota (MN) Map and look close for Highways that FIT the clues in ZMM Chapter One => As to what route the ZMM Narrator (Robert Pirsig) followed out of Minneapolis in July 1968.
…. Rt55 is practically the ONLY =>
....old "beat-up concrete" highways (page 003)" which "is an old concrete two-laner" (page 003) "that hasn’t had much traffic since a four-laner went in parallel to it several years ago" (page 003) where it is easy to "miss our turn" (page 021), despite a sign “as big as a barn” (page 021), AND soon thereafter “crosses this freeway” (page 021).
….ALSO very contrary to US-10 …. Rt 55 has several “road side rest areas, for which => “The picnic benches are abandoned at this hour of the morning. We have the whole place to ourselves. John goes across the grass to a cast-iron pump and starts pumping water to drink.”

SPECIAL NOTE: In The Summer Of 2002, I(Henry Gurr), Was Not Aware Of Mr. Pirsig In His Letter Mentioned Previous Photo. The US-10 Route Mentioned By Him Was Also Studied 2002 By Henry Gurr, But Was Not Studied Further, When The Virtues Of Rt 55 Were Discovered.
…. Thus My Best Highway Choice Back In 2002, Was Rt 55, Based On Physical Clues, Further Discussed Below.
…. You Will Also Notice That Rt 55, Was Favorably Mentioned By Mr. Pirsig In His Above-Mentioned Letter.
As A Result, My Photos You See In This Album Are For Rt 55, Which I Continue To Believe BEST Fit The Highway Clues In ZMM.

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….FOR A DECISIVE NEGATIVE CONTRAST => FOUR YEARS LATER =>
….In The Summer Of 2006 I (Henry Gurr), Started In Minneapolis, Traveled Along Mr Pirsig’s Above-Mentioned Rt 10 Then Rt 210, To Reach Breckenridge, MN.
…..Since I have traveled BOTH Rt 10 AND Rt 55, I Can Say MOST DEFINITELY That Rt 55 Is A Much Better Fit To The Physical Route Clues And Scenery Descriptions Given In ZMM.
….For example Rt 55 has many more lakes, duck sloughs, and is a narrow two lane road that is much less commercialized and thus less traveled highway. Also Rt 55 vastly better fits the ZMM clues about the missed turn just prior to a freeway. For these reasons, Rt 55 would be quieter, safer, and a much more satisfactory Pirsig Pilgrim Experience! The 3rd photo next provides some suggestions how to leave Minneapolis. However, pilgrims should heed Mr. Pirsig's above advice. They might better just improvise their own back country roads.

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(Photo = 102-0256i ...... ZMM Page = 003...... WayPt = -002w)